Edo State Government has rejected the apologies tendered by the Ojuromi of Uromi, Zaiki Edenojie II. It rather suspended him for one year for failing to apologise to a woman, Ms Betty Okoeber, whom he allegedly assaulted on September 28, 2016.

Ojuromi of Uromi was earlier suspended for 7 days and asked to apologise for disobeying constituted authorities and allegedly assaulting a woman. In his letter of apologies, the king said the woman has followed the custom and reconciled herself to the Throne as a daughter.

In his new letter of suspension, the Edo State government said the one-year suspension takes effect from Monday, November 7. The letter reads in part: “It is important, for record purposes, to recount what has led to the present situation.

On the 28th of September 2016, you left your Palace during voting and moved from polling booth to polling booth campaigning and trying to coerce voters to vote for your preferred party and candidate.

When Ms. Betty Okoebor, refused to yield to your threats, you assaulted her, causing grievous bodily harm. The Government issued you with a query. You ignored it and travelled out of the country without permission.

It is instructive to note that in your “Letter of Apology,” you trivialised the gravity of your misconduct. To ridicule the government, you proceeded to organise a “forgiveness Session” in your Palace in your capacity as Ojuromi, wearing a crown even when you were still suspended from office, purporting to be “forgiving” Ms. Okoebor.

You compelled Ms. Okoebor to apologise to you for the assault against her person, while on her knees and made to remain in same position while being interviewed by journalists. You further stated that she is your “subject” and you had “forgiven” her.

You had the embarrassing session videoed and aired repeatedly on television, subjecting her to double jeopardy and disgrace by expanding the frontiers of her embarrassment to a global level.

This represents nothing short of a deliberate effort to further aggravate the pain and humiliation of your victim.”